Big Sky Playoff Facts
The Big Sky Conference has advanced at least two teams to the playoffs in 26 of the last 28 years. The Big Sky has sent multiple teams to the postseason 13 straight seasons.
A Big Sky team is playing in the semifinals for the fourth straight season. Montana also advanced to the semifinals in 2008, 2009. Eastern Washington advanced to the semifinals in 2010 en route to the national championship. The Big Sky is trying to place a team in the national championship for the fourth straight season.
The Big Sky Conference is 74-59 (.556) all-time in the FCS playoffs. Seven of those wins and losses came against fellow Big Sky teams. Against outside opponents, the Big Sky is 67-52 (.563)
Big Sky teams have won six national titles. Boise State won it all in 1980, followed by Idaho State in 1981, Montana State in 1984, Montana in 1995 and 2001, and Eastern Washington in 2010.
Big Sky teams have lost in the national championship game seven times. Nevada was a runner-up in 1990, Boise State finished second in 1994, Montana has been second five times: 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2009.
Four times since 2003, a Big Sky team has knocked out the No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the playoffs. In 2003, Northern Arizona upset No. 1 McNeese State 35-3 in Lake Charles, La, in a first-round game in 2004, Eastern Washington upset No. 1 Southern Illinois on the road 34-31 in a first-round game. In 2007, Eastern Washington beat No. 2 McNeese State 44-14 in Lake Charles in the first round. In 2008, Montana upset No. 1 James Madison 35-27 in a semifinal game on the road. Montana has a chance to make it five times as it plays at No. 1 seed Sam Houston State on Friday.
Montana returned to the playoffs after a one-year hiatus. Montana is making its 21st playoff appearance, a record. UM appeared in 17 straight playoffs from 1993-2009, also a record. Montana is in the semifinals for the 11th time, and the seventh time since 2000.
Montana is 7-3 all-time in the semifinals. The Grizzlies are 1-2 in road semifinals with the lone victory coming in 2008 at James Madison. The road losses came in 1989 at Georgia Southern and in 1994 at Youngstown State.